Is gambling really the worst vice?

Todd Bennett

OurHometown.ca

The issue of a possible Casino in Cornwall has been thrust back into the spotlight and it didn't take too long for the criticism to start. Many are saying that it will lead to divorces, bankruptcy, and even suicides, for those that can't control themselves. So we think the government should do what they can to protect people from themselves? Why stop at gambling?

Cornwall - April 12, 2012 - The issue of a possible Casino in Cornwall has been thrust back into the spotlight and it didn't take too long for the criticism to start. Many are saying that it will lead to divorces, bankruptcy, and even suicides, for those that can't control themselves. So we think the government should do what they can to protect people from themselves? Why stop at gambling?

Let's get the government to stop the sale of alcohol; it leads to addiction, divorces, bankruptcy, and even suicide. Only with alcohol, the drunk individual has the capacity to kill innocent people by drinking and driving - I have not heard of an out of control gambler running over a pedestrian on his way home from a casino. Surely drinking alcohol should be banned first. While the government is at it, let's ban smoking; clearly it can cause addiction. One could argue that it not only kills the smoker, but those non smokers that inhale the second hand smoke around them. Oh, but wait...the government collects an obscene amout of taxes from these vices, so we all turn a blind eye to it because the revenue from these vices pays for our health care and the programs that help people deal with their addictions. Surely you can see some irony here.

Now, what is so evil with the gambler? What is the difference between gambling, and smoking, and drinking? They can all have a seriously negative impact on the lives of people who struggle with addictive behaviors. A casino will not create more people who can't control themselves. There are already many legal forms off gambling readily available: the church bingo...gambling. 649, and Lotto Max...gambling. Nevada tickets...gambling. Hockey pools...gambling. The list goes on and on. At least with a casino, there is a little more control, and a majority of the revenue stays in the community.

Many possitives can come from a casino: tourism would be greatly affected, our cities profile would be raised, people would come to Cornwall to spend money at our hotels and restaurants, where they will eat, drink, and go outside for a smoke. If you are going to allow some vices and not others, who decides? Now, after saying all that, my point is, there are worse things than gambling. If the government is going to allow it, then why shouldn't Cornwall try to benefit from it?

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